Vigil for Vigil's Keep

The Wolf just nodded, eyeing the unknown mage and then the Commander.

''I will make sure there's nothing hiding here that would be dangerous for us once we get inside''. The Dalish looked around. ''I sent Bowen and Caterina back to camp with the survivors. They were running like beheaded chickens''

With that, and a slight bow from her head, the Wolf entered the shadows in the Keep to explore and check if there were more darkspawn inside, and to check from where the hell they came in first place

His eyes widened as he looked at the dwarven woman, not so much in disbelief but certainly in surprise. Wardens? Here? It hadn't been long ago that everyone had thought them all dead, but even so, he'd never imagined that he'd ever actually run into one. He didn't say anything, though. She seemed otherwise occupied with her party, and he really had no intention of doing anything that would further annoy any of them.

"'Take command of the mage'?" he couldn't help but repeat as the dwarven woman went about giving orders, and his eyes trailed over to the man she seemed to have motioned to. The rather extremely large man. An eyebrow rose, and he held up his hands placatingly, returning his staff to the holster on his back. "Be gentle with me. I bruise easily." As much as he would have loved to be offended by the blanket command and borderline racist nomenclature, even his mouth knew when to shut up in a situation like this. A gang of angry Wardens wasn't something he really wanted to have on his back. Besides, Wardens were actually fairly well known for accepting mages. He could even feel the Fade on the man that the dwarven woman had motioned at to watch him, and though he'd pretty much been given to him to watch like a badly behaved dog, it was at least good to know that another mage was in their midst. Sort of.

Griffinhart regarded the man's words - "I bruise easily" - with a moment of bemusement, before understanding that he struck an imposing figure. That worked in his favor.

The warrior nodded in acknowledgement, both of his orders and of the mage's words, and settled in behind his charge. They did not have the time to properly bind him; nor did Griffinhart actually know if the man was to be treated like a prisoner; instead, the swordsman spoke, in a neutral voice, with an even tone, taking advantage of his form to convey any subtle threats of violence.

"Follow the Commander. Take care with your hands, or I will take care of them." It was simple, direct, and acknowledged both the mage's capabilities and his own.

It would have to suffice.

Kai stood motionless for another moment observing the mage before he acted. He flashed a dagger at the mage with an evil grin, then turned away as if the mage were beneath his notice. Reluctantly he gave Nygozy's shoulder a squeeze and faded into the shadows ahead of the party to scout the way back.

He didn't want to stray far from Nygozy, but threats were best found early. He also thought briefly of following his cousin deeper but that would really be leaving Nygozy. As concerned as he was for Calliara, Nygozy had to come first.

Well Maker, wasn't this fabulous. One of his guard was giving a particularly dashing impersonation of a brick wall, and the other was quite pointedly ignoring him (after making a very real threat of his dagger, no less). If they'd been Templars, he wouldn't have taken any chances and he'd have mad a run for it, low on mana or no, but considering the fact that he hadn't yet been bound and gagged, he figured he hadn't quite jumped into the metaphorical fire just yet. Besides, the dwarven woman seemed likeable enough - as likeable as someone could be covered in darkspawn gore in the middle of a razed keep.

He looked back at the white-haired maybe-mage warrior, and then turned back around to follow the procession out of the room, the very picture of an obedient prisoner. If he was a prisoner. Even his assigned guard seemed to be flaky on that detail. "Is that a promise or a threat?" he couldn't help but quip back, willfully ignoring the fact that now was probably not the best time for his particular brand of snarky retaliation. he couldn't help it - it was hardwired into his brain to be smart with people. "I think I can manage my hands just fine, but I'm not promising anything if we're attacked by darkspawn again. Forgive me for saying, but then it's every mage for himself."

The Keep was a complete mess. It was amazing how fast darkspawn could spread their filth and turn a completely safe place into a dirty lair. There was broken furniture everywhere, and some corpses as well. Or what she assumed were corpses. It was obvious that some of the unfortunate ones that couldn't escape in time had been eaten. The Wolf wanted to think they were dead before that.

Calliara checked the upper floors to find that most of them were still clean and untouched. There were no survivors though, as they surely had escaped with the first attacks. Still, she registered every corner just to be sure.

Then she started to go lower and lower, and things got worse. Here and there she found a genlock wandering, and sometimes even some agonic darkspawn that still had breath to roar at her. She killed them all and continued looking, not daring to leave without knowing exactly where they came from in first place.

There was something in the air though. Something that didn't feel quite right. It wasn't darkspawn presence, she was quite sure there were no darkspawn in the Keep at that moment, but she could feel their filthy presence far beyond her. Underneath her feet.

No, that feeling was a strange one. Looking around, the scene looked like seen through some kind of weird blurr. The Wolf wondered if...

Smart beyond your years

The Wolf stopped, staring at the front in disbelief. There was nothing there, in front of her or behind. She couldn't feel anyone close. But still, she could hear his voice, as clearly as if he was standing right by her side.

''It happened at last. I went mad''

And then his laughter, his soft, gentle laughter, and the Wolf suddenly saw the scene way worse blurry than before.

No, you are not mad. I know I've told you so, sometimes. But this is not the case

Calliara shook her head and continued walking. ''This can't be happening''

You can deny it if you want. But you, and the Wardens, need to know what it's happening here, my moonlight

The Wolf had to stop again, and lean her back against the wall, feeling her knees weak. It couldn't be. There was no way it could be. She seriously considered she went mad for real, because there was no way that Duncan, former Grey Warden Commander, was speaking to her from nowhere.

''How...?''

Again his laughter, with pride in his voice. Smart girl. I can't tell you. You must realize by yourselves. I'm forbidden to tell, but I needed to tell you all. I couldn't let my Wardens go to war into the unknown without trying to help them

''Are you here?'' Calliara's voice sounded more broken than ever, to her dismay, fighting back her tears. How she wished she could hug him, and not letting him go again.

I can't even touch you, my moonlight His deep voice, sad as it was the day they parted to Weisshaupt. Calliara closed her eyes while Duncan kept speaking. I am not in your realm, I know what you are asking. I am gone, Calliara. I can not return

The Wolf nodded lightly, heart still broken. She knew it, but hearing it was far worse. ''Then how...? Why...?''

''You must warn Nygozy and the others. You're heading to an entrance to the Deep Roads, beneath this Keep. But that's not the worst part. You already know what part that is. There's just one way I could be speaking with you, as you have no magic powers, from the place I am...

Calliara frowned, but then, when realization hit her, she sighed. ''Sethenera. The Veil is broken. You're speaking to me from the Fade''

She could imagine Duncan nodding with his usual silent approval when one recruit did something that pleased him. Smart girl. I can't tell you how it happened, as we are not sure

''We? Who are...?''

Service does not end with death, moonlight. We are here, standing vigilant, as always. Just... in another place

The Wolf silently nodded, feeling somehow scared and relieved at the same time. So that was what Wardens had to expect. Their souls and everything they were would not vanish in the shadows in the end. There was a place for them, guarding the Veil. She wondered if they were guarding the dead God's souls when they were defeated in the Blights, to prevent them coming back. She wondered if she would go there once her time came. In Death, Sacrifice, meant more things than the Grey Wardens motto let know. Now she realized it also meant Eternal Service

''I... miss you...'' Oh Mythal, she said it out loud. Damnit.

I know you do. I miss you too, my moonlight. But my life was close to its end and you are still so young. And now you have another reason to continue. I'm proud of you

''How could you...?'' Calliara whispered, not knowing how to finish her whine. How could he be so calm about her loving another man? How could he know about it? [/''He... he left... a while ago... and... and he hasn't come back... I don't know if...''

He will do. And you two will live. And everything would be fine... I must go now, and you must go back to Nygozy and inform

''No, not yet..! Duncan...!''

It hurts me just the same as it hurts you, Cal... Duncan's voice was as sweet as in their most intimate moments, and Calliara felt her heart breaking again. I loved you, I still do, and I'll always will. That can't change, and it won't. But I want you - need you - to be happy and live. I'll wait for you to join us, but not before it's your time for real. Tell Alistair I'm proud of him, really proud, but he needs to harden more. Tell Gunnar and Bowen I miss them, and I'm proud of them as well. And tell Nygozy she is doing a good job keeping my Wardens safe and going. I am proud of all of you

The Wolf nodded, defeated, and wiped out a rebel tear that was falling down her cheek. ''I love you too'', she whispered. ''I'll always will. And I miss you''

And you also love him. As it should be. There's a reason for anything, my moonlight

''And I love him too'', the Wolf nodded, feeling the pieces of her heart hurting more just thinking about Drake and wondering if he would be safe, and wondering where he could be. Or if he was ever coming back.

I'll see you when it's your time, Cal. My White Wolf. Be safe and proud until that moment. Protect your cubs. I love you

And that was all. She could barely whisper her last 'I love you' when the scene changed lightly, still blurry, but not as blurry as before. An ominous feeling was coming from the stone stairs right in fron of her that went down, to the basement that led to the lowest level of the Keep. But she could not go there alone.

The Wolf turned to go back to the highest levels and out the Keep, to go back and inform. Luckily, she had enough time to recover her calm state before arriving, a time she needed to hide her tears and the pain she was feeling right then. Pain for the man she lost, and pain and fear for the man she feared she was about to loose.

[OOC: Next poster is either myself or Nygozy. Shall we wrap this one up, or was there more plot?

-- Griffinhart]

[There's nothing left, go ahead ]

[OOC: Hrmph, I just realized that there's a bit of a plothole - Nyogzy ordered Calliara to take point on the way back to camp, but Calliara went and explored the interior of the Keep... time to Duck Fate.]

The Warden party arrived back at camp without further incidence, partially due to vigilance, and mostly due to having killed nearly everything on the way into the Keep; it was not as if darkspawn were going to randomly pop up in the middle of the forest to waylay the group. At least, Griffinhart did not voice the likelihood of it happening. They weren't in the Anderfels, after all. Still...

The camp was in a state of orderly chaos - it was not constructed to deal with an influx of refugees (or, really, an influx of anything other than hostiles), and people were running about - the less-injured tending to the more-injured, with the more medically-minded members of Nygozy's party administering aid to the best of their overwhelmed abilities.

The freshly-arrived Keep crew dispersed to attend to concerns that lay within their spheres of influence.

[That must have been me and my usual lack of understanding orders *awkward penguin walks away* ]